EARTHWORKS - 20 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL JOB COST, 80 PERCENT OF THE ON-SITE PROBLEMS - A SPECIALIST CONTRACTOR'S VIEW

The three factors which control the cost of the bulk earth moving operation are: the quality and type of material likely to be encountered, the most suitable equipment, and the length of the haul. The first step in the haul analysis is the calculation of the volumes of material of the various types that will be encountered. This will be followed by determination of the most economical haul distances. The cut and fill volumes must now be balanced so that the whole operation may be carried out in a balanced manner. The use of the mass haul diagram and the Block Diagram is discussed. The method of specifying compaction and the suitability of material are also discussed. Problems encountered with the standard method of earthworks measurement are reviewed, and the relationship between the engineer, contractor and subcontractor is examined.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at Seminar X (Road Design 1: General Topics) of the PTRC Summer Annual Meeting, Warwick University, England, 8-12 July 1974.
• Corporate Authors:

  Planning and Transport Res and Computation Co Ltd

  167 Oxford Street
  London W1R 1AH,   England 
• Authors:
  • Bailey, J L
• Publication Date: 1974-7

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 218-228
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Comision Permanente del Asfalto
  • Publisher: Comision Permanente del Asfalto

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calculation; Compaction; Contractors; Costs; Diagrams; Earth; Earthquakes; Electromagnetic spectrum; Engineers; Excavation and tunneling; Highway design; Measurement; Motion; Moving industry; Personnel; Specifications
• Non-Preferred Terms: Haul distance
• Uncontrolled Terms: Computation
• Subject Areas: Construction; Finance; Freight Transportation; Highways; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00096288
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: PTRC/P/108
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 10 1975 12:00AM